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Biography

Born in Korea, this future actress moved to America at age 10, and her innate shyness was exacerbated by her lack of English skills. However, once she was cast in her seventh-grade production of My Fair Lady, she found her voice and her vocation. After studying acting at Boston University, Kim tried her luck on stage, appearing off Broadway and in regional productions. But her big break came in 1996 when the folks behind the Korean TV series Gorgeous Vacation, which was being shot stateside, offered her a role. Still fluent in her native tongue, Kim took the part and was an instant hit with her former countrymen. In 1999 she made the leap to the big-screen as a butt-kicking, gun-shooting bombshell in the political actioner Shiri. One of the most successful Korean movies of all time, the film established Kim as a star in her homeland and she followed it up with a number of other popular Asian entries. In 2004, Kim made a play for Hollywood by signing on to Lost as plane-crash survivor Sun Kwon. The mysterious drama was an instant hit, and her character's complicated romance with her domineering husband (played by fellow Korean---but no relation---Daniel Dae Kim) intrigued fans. Kim took a liking to Lost's Hawaiian locales, describing the state as "magical" and choosing to get married there in 2010, shortly after filming some of her last scenes for Lost. During her stint on the popular series, she made Maxim's Hot 100 list in 2006 and 2007. The magazine photos showed off her toned body, which she keeps in shape thanks to dance (ballet, jazz and Afro-Caribbean) and combat training (quarter staff, broad sword and Tae Kwon Do)---skills that have been on display in some of her action-oriented roles.

Fast Facts

Born in Korea and moved to the U.S. at age 10; grew up on New York City's Staten Island.

First performed in a school production of My Fair Lady as a seventh grader.

Starred in Shiri (1999), one of the most successful Korean films of all time.

Served as a Korean Goodwill Ambassador for soccer's 2002 World Cup.

Originally auditioned for the role of Kate on Lost; the role of Sun was created after she met with the show's producers.

Described living in Hawaii during Lost as "magical," but admitted she once called a security guard to help her get a flying cockroach out of her condo.

Is unable to wear pierced earrings because she was born with a cleft in her left earlobe.